Síle Denvir is a sean-nós singer and harpist deeply influenced by her upbringing in the Connemara Gaeltacht in the west of Ireland. A native Irish speaker, her singing is very much rooted in the old style of sean-nós singing, while her harp playing and interest in the music of the old harpers are influenced by her first teacher and mentor, Kathleen Loughnane.
As well as being a solo artist, Síle has collaborated with some of the most renowned musicians in Irish music. She is a founding member of the group Líadan and has toured with The Chieftains. Her recent performances include collaborations with Martin Hayes and the ‘Common Ground Ensemble’, Barry Kerr, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Úna Monaghan, and the sean-nós song collective ‘Bláth na hÓige’. Notable highlights include singing as part of Mícheál Ó Suilleabháin’s composition Fill Arís with Iarla Ó Lionáird, Lillis Ó Laoire and The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra at the National Concert Hall.
Síle is also an Associate Professor at Dublin City University, specialising in the Irish language, creative practice, song and poetry. She has a particular interest in combining her academic and creative work, and recent artistic research pursuits include Caithréim, a project based on the music and song from the plays of Patrick Pearse, and Aibhse, a creative exploration of sean-nós song and harmony singing with sean-nós singers Caoimhe and Séamus Ó Flatharta, and Máire and Étáin Ní Churraoin. She has published two books on songwriters from Connemara, Tom a’ tSeoighe: Amhráin (2020) and Ciarán Ó Fátharta: Amhráin (2008), along with numerous articles on the Irish song tradition.
Her most recent recording, Anamnesis, an album of sean-nós songs in collaboration with producer John Reynolds and cellist Caroline Dale, was released in 2023. Recognised for her contribution to the Irish music and song tradition, Síle was honoured as Amhránaí na Bliana (Singer of the Year) at the TG4 Gradam Ceoil in 2023.